Read on to find out what levels in video games mean and what their purpose is.
Level Meaning in Games
What is level in gaming? There are two different meanings to levels in games. For instance, it can be simply a synonym for a separate, self-contained stage, course, map, round, or mission. But it can also be a measure of player character’s strength or power – in which case it means “character level”, specifically, but is simply called “level” for short.
For the purpose of this particular glossary entry, let’s focus on the former meaning.
What’s the Purpose of Levels in Games?
Levels in video games are meant to give players a goal and give the game a more organized structure, as opposed to games with open-world environments or sandbox games, for example, where players could wander anywhere and could possibly get lost easily.
When a game features levels, your goal is usually to beat the level and get to the next one.
Levels often increase in difficulty as you progress further into the game to give you a continuous challenge. As you get further, you are naturally becoming more experienced with the game, which means you need more demanding stages to keep your excitement high and have a sense of accomplishment after beating the stage.
Not all video games have levels; these that do, may be linear or non-linear. Platform games from the Metroidvania genre, for example, have the game world split into levels, some of which may remain inaccessible until you acquire a special power, encouraging players to keep exploring and return to previously visited levels.
Beating a Level in Games
If a game has levels, you’re most likely expected to find a way to beat them. Depending on the game, this could mean various things. Here are some practical examples.
In racing games, beating a level could mean arriving first at the finish line.
In fighting games, beating a level could mean knocking out the opponent.
In puzzle games, you’re expected to find a way to solve the puzzle.
In platform games, beating a level could mean finding collectibles and safely arriving at the exit.
Bonus Levels in Games
Sometimes games may feature bonus levels. These can be well-hidden stages that you need to find on your own, or they can be presented to you naturally as a reward for your current achievements and above-average performance.
Bonus levels often give players extra rewards, so whenever you get a chance to play one, you should seize that opportunity.
Conclusion
Levels, or stages, give games a well-organized structure, making it easier to play through them and experience all content in the exact order intended by developers.
If a game features levels, players should expect increasingly difficult challenge; designing levels in such a way that players don’t get bored easily is one of the most difficult tasks for developers.